The Four Horsemen of Notre Dame in 1924

[Phil C]

These men were in one of the best backfield in football history. They all were very good at running, passing and kicking. Especially running. They were quick and fast and when they got the ball they were each a threat to go all the way no matter what the field could be. They were good receivers but with their running they didn't have to pass often. They were also excellent defenders as back then due to substitution rules players played both ways. They were QB Harry Stuhldreher a great one and a good leader, LHF Jim Crowley, RHB Don Miller and FB Elmer Layden. They played for Notre Dame from 1922 to 1924 (Freshmen couldn't play then). IN 1922 ND had a good record losing only to Nebraska in Nebraska 6-14 and tying Army 0-0 and finished with an 8-1-1 record. 1923 was even better at a 9-1 season losing again only to Nebraska at Nebraska 7-14.

Also it must be remembered that in those years ND played what was considered a tough schedule. Their coach was the great Knute Rockne.

But 1924 was the fantastic year. It has been said that this was Coach Rockne's favorite team. This is what happened.

1. Lombard 40 - 0
2. Wabash 34 - 0
3. Army 13-7. This was a real test as Army was considered a good team. Grantland Rice gave them the name that distinguished them from then on. Someone called their great linemen the 7 mules and they did a fantastic job of blocking for them.
4. Princeton 12 - 0. Princeton was considered a good program in these years.
5. Georgia Tech 34 - 3.
6. Wisconsin 38 - 3
7. Nebraska 34 - 6 This one must have been sweet revenge for ND for the past 2 years as they caught NB at ND.
8. Northwestern 13 - 6 Northwestern also had some good teams around this time and they were a challenge.
9. Carnegie Tech 40 - 19

ND was invited to the Rose Bowl and Coach Rockne wanted to play USC but Stanford was invited since they were the western conference champions.
ND went on to beat a good Stanford Team 27 - 10. Stanford was led by their great HB Ernie Nevers who went on to have a great NFL Hall of Fame Career. The 4 Horsemen ended their career here and were successful in thir chosen fields.

[Phil C]

The 1925 Rose Bowl Game between Notre Dame and Stanford is interesting. Actually even though ND won 27 ot 10 they had met their match. Stanford's great back Ernie Nevers rushed for 117 yards and outrushed the 4 Horsemen of Notre Dame all together. What was astonishing is that he played that great with two injured ankles.
As usual Coach Rockne let his second team play the first quarter. He did that because he felt that the rest would benefit the first team with the rest when it got to the fourth quarter. He also had second stringers that were better than most teams first stringers. Stanford used this advantage to move down the field but had to settle for a field goal and led 3 - 0.
In the second quarter with good field position ND moved down the field 46 yards for the go ahead td and led 6-3 as they missed the only extra point they would miss that day. But ND got gifts on the rest of their 3 tds. Stanford moved the ball but a pass interception at the ND 22 was returned 78 yards for a td by Layden and the Irish led 13-3.
In the third quarter Layden punted the ball to the Stanford 20 yard line but it was fumbled and one of the defenders picked it up and ran it in for a score. the Irish led 20 - 3. Later Stanford recovered a fumble the Irish were driving but this time Nevers intercepted the ball at his 20 and returned it to midfield and this time Stanford moved down the filed and scored and it was 20 - 10 Irish.
Later Stanford got the ball and moved it to withing inches of the ND goal line. Ernie Nevers was stopped short of the goal line on fourth down but the play was controversial and many thought he had scored but no review then. Later in the fourth quarter Layden cinched it for the Irish when he intercepted a pass at his 30 and returned it for a td that made the final 27 - 10 in favor of ND.

ND had actually been outmatched but three turnovers resulted in immediate tds and you can't do that against a great team. Stanford actually won in the other statistics except they turned the ball not only those 3 times but 5 other times. No douth this contributed much to their defeat but still great teams take advantage of these opportunities and the Irish did so.

[XMan]

Phil, you may have become my hero.

[defense51]

mine too

[WildTexan972]

BWood would beat those guys by 60.



~signed~
Rocket

[Phil C]

Originally posted by WildTexan972
BWood would beat those guys by 60.



~signed~
Rocket

I think it would be the other way around. The 1924 BWood team wouldn't have had a chance.

[Phil C]

Notre Dame (ND) and Ohio Stage University (OSU) played one of the greatest games in history on 11-2-35 at OSU. The game was played before 80,000 fans. Both teams had perfect records going into the game and interest was high. OSU completely dominated the first half and led 13-0 at the half and still had that lead after three quarters. Then it was ND's turn to dominated. Early in the fourth quarter ND scored but missed the extra point and still trailed 13 to 6. Later thanks to an interception ND drove close to the OSU goal line but were stopped short of the goal with a fumble. Later ND got the ball and scored a second td with 90 seconds left but missed the extra point again and sitll trailed 12-13 as we must remember no two pont conversions on extra points then. OSU got the ball and was in field position but this time they fumbled to ND near midfield. With time running out the ND QB ran to the Ohio State but was injured. There was time for one more play. Reserve ND QB Bill Shakespeare (no doubt taking a break from his great playwritting) threw a 19 yard td pass to Wayne Milner to win the game for the Irish 18-13.

This was the only loss OSU had that year with a 7-1 record while ND over the next two weeks was to lose to Northwestern and tie Army.